The International Journal of Public Opinion Research has released a special issue titled “Global Perspectives on Science, Polarization, and Populism,” co-edited by CCPP Director Erik C. Nisbet (Northwestern University) and Aysenur Dal (Bilkent University). The special issue brings together scholars from across the world to examine how political polarization and populism shape public opinion about science, technology, health, and the environment.
In their introductory article, Dal and Nisbet review the growing body of global research linking trust in science to political context, ideological worldviews, and populist sentiment. They trace the shift away from the traditional “deficit model”—which assumed that public skepticism toward science stemmed mainly from a lack of knowledge—toward a recognition that science attitudes are deeply embedded in political, cultural, and institutional environments.
“Understanding how polarization and populism influence public trust in science is essential to strengthening evidence-based policymaking and democratic governance around the world,” Nisbet and Dal write.
The eleven articles in the issue are organized around three major themes:
- Populism and Trust in Science – Studies from Türkiye, Germany, Sweden, and other contexts reveal how populist attitudes erode trust in scientists, amplify misinformation, and challenge scientific authority.
- Media, Misinformation, and Public Opinion – Contributions explore how traditional and alternative media—from YouTube discussions to populist news outlets—shape polarized perceptions of climate change, vaccines, and emerging technologies.
- Global Crises and Polarized Opinions – Research from India, Spain, and the United States examines how events such as COVID-19 and international climate policy debates influence polarization and public trust in science.
Together, these studies highlight the global nature of science polarization and the need for context-sensitive communication strategies to rebuild public trust and counter populist skepticism.
The special issue underscores CCPP’s commitment to advancing international, interdisciplinary research on the intersection of communication, science, and politics.